Humanities Fellowship

Humanities Fellowship

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the Fellowship, or wish to nominate a student, please contact jschul@brandeis.edu.

Brandeis continues to affirm the critical role played by the humanities in preparing students for a rapidly evolving world. As an extension of this commitment, we will select up to 40 of the most intellectually promising admitted students for our Humanities Fellowship. The global, interconnected nature of our society requires scholars with the ability to think both critically and empathetically. We believe there is tremendous value in engaging with the ideas, texts, images, languages, and cultures that have shaped human experience.

The Humanities Fellowship Program strives to expose students to the rigors of academic research and the tremendous possibility and potential inherent in the humanities disciplines. Participants will receive an annual scholarship, work directly with Humanities faculty, and delve into leading-edge scholarship through special programming. Fellows will be given a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the human condition, sharpen their critical analysis skills, and raise their academic profile. This makes the program particularly relevant for those interested in pursuing a graduate degree. However, our fellowship aims beyond the individual to the cultivation of a community of scholars, where fellows engage and collaborate across disciplinary boundaries.

Perks of the Program

$82,000 in total scholarship funding, or up to $20,500 annually, renewable for up to eight semesters.

A $500 stipend toward an approved experiential learning opportunity in the humanities. This can include an internship, research, or study abroad experience.

A rigorous keystone seminar, which bridges multiple disciplines within the humanities and examines classical texts from fresh perspectives. The keystone seminar will satisfy Brandeis’ Undergraduate Writing Seminar (UWS) Requirement. In the Fall 2019 semester, two courses will be offered: Epic Literature, taught by Professor Laura Quinney and Drawing Upon Literature, taught by Professor Susan Lichtman and Professor Robin Feuer Miller.

Access to some of our most revered humanities faculty members as mentors and advisors.

How to be considered

Students do not need to apply for this honor. The Admissions Committee and departmental representatives will automatically consider students during our review period. Recipients will be selected based on a holistic review of their academic accomplishments and demonstrated commitment to the humanities. Fellows will be notified of their award shortly after the admission decision notification date, April 1.

Program Requirements

In order to maintain their funding and membership in the fellowship, fellows must:

Remain in good academic standing

Maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA

Participate in the Humanities Keystone Seminar their first semester on campus